Brady backing for boss Staunton

Archbishop Sean Brady is backing Steve Staunton

The leader of Irish Catholics has urged football fans to keep faith with Republic manager Steve Staunton.

Staunton could lose his job on Tuesday when the Football Association of Ireland holds an emergency meeting.

His reign suffered a new low on Wednesday when the Republic drew 1-1 against Cyprus at Croke Park.

However, Archbishop Sean Brady told TV3's The Political Party programme on Sunday that he was "very much on his side, a supporter of Steve".

The archbishop - who will become a cardinal in November - said the Drogheda-born manager was from his diocese.

"He is getting a hard time of it but we all get a hard time at certain times," he said.

Archbishop Brady urged the Republic's fans to support the former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender.

Steve Staunton looks likely to lose his job

"You have to stay and be a faithful supporter and not a fair-weather supporter.

"You have to stay through good times and bad times," he said.

After Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier - where only an injury time equaliser saved the Republic from even greater embarrassment - FAI chief John Delaney refused to give public backing to Staunton.

In an RTE interview on Thursday, Delaney was repeatedly asked to back Staunton but he refused to do so.

Staunton has been in the job for 21 months and pressure had grown after a shocking 5-2 away defeat to Cyprus last year and an injury time victory against perennial whipping-boys San Marino in February.